Breeders' Cup Distaff: I'm a Chatterbox proves a keeper

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray have tasted Breeders’ Cup success from afar, as the breeders of 2008 Juvenile Fillies winner and champion Stardom Bound. This year, however, they could be in the thick of things in the winner’s circle. Their homebred I’m a Chatterbox has gone from auction failure to carrying the Grays’ colors as one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

"It's like watching one of your kids go to the Olympics," Carolyn Gray said.

"She has a good team working with her and she loves her work. She loves what she does."

The Grays, Missouri-based commercial breeders with only a handful of mares, make their living by selling young prospects, only occasionally racing a horse. I’m a Chatterbox became one of those when she failed to make her reserve at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, drawing a high bid of $30,000.

The Grays have found success with buybacks before, as Fayregammo, an $80,000 RNA, and Icon Ike, who twice came home from auction, both went on to become stakes winners. Both were trained by Larry Jones – who credited the Grays’ intuition for some of Icon Ike’s success.

Jones recalled that Icon Ike liked Polytrack and that he wanted to send him to another trainer in California, which at the time had tracks that were using synthetic surfaces. Above Jones's objections, the Grays asked him to run Icon Ike on turf at the 2011-12 at Fair Grounds meet, and the horse won three races in a row on the grass there, including the Black Gold Stakes. In 2013, Icon Ike won a stakes on turf at Sam Houston, setting a course record and beating Chamberlain Bridge, the 2010 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner.

"And I was trying to get them to take this horse away!" Jones said.

All of that set the stage for I’m a Chatterbox, who raced last year for trainer Ken McPeek – with a debut win at Keeneland – before the Grays sent her to Jones in New Orleans for the winter. She promptly rattled off victories in the Silverbulletday Stakes, Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, and Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Then, however, began a frustrating string of Grade 1 attempts. I’m a Chatterbox finished third to stablemate Lovely Maria in the Kentucky Oaks, was disqualified to second after crossing the wire first in the Coaching Club American Oaks, and was second in the Alabama Stakes. She finally broke through with a win in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx – which Jones pointed out will pay long-term dividends to the Grays because it boosted the filliy's breeding value and the value of her dam.

I’m a Chatterbox now targets older mares for the first time in the Distaff.

"We know she likes Keeneland,” Jones said. "She's been doing really well since the last race. We're pointing again now. It's time to go."